People

Services

Industries

Firm

About

Knowledge

Careers

News

Events

Contact

Connect

Privacy Policy

Disclaimer

Terms of Use

Accessibility

Legal

Calgary

Toronto

Edmonton

Ottawa

Vancouver

New York

Montréal

Richard Dion

Economic Analyst and Forecasting Advisor at Bennett Jones Ottawa

Senior Business Advisor

Serge Dupont

Senior Advisor at Bennett Jones Ottawa

Senior Advisor

The global and Canadian economies are still adjusting to the shocks of COVID and war. Inflation remains elevated, and monetary conditions are restrictive. There are legacies, in particular high public and private debt.
Concurrently, the forces of demographic ageing, climate change, and digitalization are intensifying in a new fragmented world, transforming our economies, and requiring more public and private investment. These two factors—short-term adjustment and structural change—set the background for our 2024 Economic Outlook.

2024 Economic Outlook The LongTerm Is Now

2024 Economic Outlook: The Long-Term Is Now

For the last three years, governments, businesses and workers have confronted a series of shocks and disruptions that have tested their agility and resilience. The pandemic, the war in Ukraine, supply chain constraints, swings in commodity prices, and higher inflation and interest rates, have demanded swift responses and adjustment. There are aftershocks, uncertainty and risk, and still a need to adapt. Navigating turbulent times remains a key function of policy and business planning. Yet, given forces shaping the world of tomorrow, it matters even more how governments and businesses plan to invest, innovate and create the conditions for sustainable growth over the longer term. This Economic Outlook entitled Playing the Long Game reviews recent developments and short-term prospects, sets out a baseline scenario and risks to assist business planning and describes some of the context for the longer term and key tasks ahead for Canadian governments and firms.

Economic Outlook Playing the Long Game

Economic Outlook: Playing the Long Game

William S. Osler KC

Capital Markets, Securities, M&A and Corporate Governance Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner

Jason D. Roth

Infrastructure Development Project, Engineering, Construction and Procurement Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Enzo J. Barichello KC

Energy, Power and Commercial Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Partner 

The Government of Alberta has launched its long-term plan for economic recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the historic fall in oil prices. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.alberta.ca/recovery-plan.aspx" target="_blank">Alberta’s Recovery Plan</a> is the province's strategy to invest in infrastructure, diversify the economy and create jobs. The government says Alberta’s Recovery Plan is a work in progress and details of each policy initiative will be released in the coming days and weeks.

Albertas Recovery Plan

Alberta's Recovery Plan

Another minority Parliament in Ottawa combined with the 
implications of the international financial situation will undoubtedly give rise 
to new policy directions on a range of issues. This is a critical time for 
businesses to review their government relations strategies with regard to 
economic, regulatory and other policy matters that may affect their interests, 
as well as to make their views on these matters known to government 
policy-makers. 

Federal Lobbying Act Rules for Post Election Corporate Lobbying

Federal Lobbying Act Rules for Post-Election Corporate Lobbying

Katherine Booth

Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Nina Butz

Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate

In RateMDs Inc. v. Bleuler, 2025 BCCA 329, the BC Court of Appeal overturned certification of a proposed privacy class action, finding that the plaintiff's novel claims that use of health professionals' names violated their privacy and amounted to commercial exploitation under provincial privacy statutes were bound to fail.

BC Court of Appeal dismisses proposed privacy class action

BC Court of Appeal Dismisses Proposed Privacy Class Action; Finds Use of Professionals' Names Was Not Commercial Exploitation 

Denise D. Bright

Public and Private Company Financial Transactions and Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Olu Akinniyi

Articling Student

Recent amendments to Alberta&rsquo;s Securities Act strengthen the Alberta Securities Commission&rsquo;s ability to address financial misinformation and protect investors. Enacted through the Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2), the changes expand the definition of forward-looking information and grant the ASC new authority to temporarily halt trading where misleading or inaccurate information is being disseminated. While aimed at curbing harmful online promotion, including by &ldquo;finfluencers,&rdquo; the amendments also have important implications for reporting issuers and their disclosure practices.

Alberta Expands ASC Powers to Address Financial Misinformation

Laura James

Corporate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Rebecca Burnand

Corporate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Madison Sutherland

Newly released market data out of the US shows the demand for beauty products remained strong in 2025 despite pressure on overall consumer spending. Beauty M&amp;A deal volume in the US decreased slightly this year due to tariff and trade concerns, but analysts are optimistic for a busier 2026 on the dealmaking front.

Whats Shaping MA in the Beauty Industry

Glow and Grow: What's Shaping M&A in the Beauty Industry

Ethan Z. Schiff

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Maisah Syed

In David v. Loblaw Companies Limited, the Ontario Court of Appeal confirms that a certification denial for failure to plead a cause of action is final and barred by res judicata. Absent narrow exceptions, plaintiffs cannot amend pleadings to relitigate certification and must pursue an appeal.

Ontario Court of Appeal Says that Plaintiffs Cannot Amend Instead of Appeal

Daron K. Naffin

Energy, Environmental/Regulatory and Expropriation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Tim Myers

Regulatory, Environmental, Aboriginal and Expropriation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Thomas Machell

Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

The Alberta Energy Regulator has released new editions of Directive 071 and Manual 026, significantly expanding emergency preparedness and response requirements. This post outlines the key changes, including mandatory Emergency Management Programs, expanded scope across resource sectors, enhanced hazard analysis standards, and what approval holders should do ahead of the February 2, 2026 effective date.

Enzo Barichello an Edmonton Changemaker With MacEwan Business Building Campaign

From the Same Authors